• M B Polee, H W Tilanus, F A L M Eskens, R Hoekstra, M E L Van der Burg, P D Siersema, G Stoter, and A Van der Gaast.
• Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.polee@planet.nl
• Ann. Oncol. 2003 Aug 1;14(8):1253-7.

BackgroundWe have previously reported a favourable response rate in patients with advanced esophageal cancer after treatment with a biweekly regimen of paclitaxel and cisplatin. In this study we investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this regimen in a neo-adjuvant setting.Patients And MethodsPatients with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus received paclit-axel 180 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks. Patients received three courses and responding patients received three additional courses; thereafter, patients were referred for surgery. Patient characteristics of 50 eligible patients were as follows: male, 60%; median age, 62 years (range 45-78); median World Health Organization performance status of 1 (range 0-2).ResultsNinety-four per cent of patients received at least three courses of chemotherapy. Haematological toxicity consisted of National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria grade 3 or 4 neutropenia in 71% of patients, with neutropenic fever occurring in only two patients (4%). The overall response rate was 59%. Pathological examination showed tumour-free margins in 38 patients. In seven patients no residual tumour was found. The median overall survival was 20 months and the 1- and 3-year survival rates were 68% and 30%, respectively.ConclusionsThis dose-dense schedule of paclitaxel and cisplatin administered biweekly is well tolerated and the observed overall and complete response rates are promising.

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